It worked for Manny Ramirez and the Red Sox, right? We all remember Manny’s infamous “there’s always next year” rant in 2004 when Boston found itself trailing the Yankees 0-3 in the ALCS. Some would argue those comments helped take the pressure off the Sox and sparked the most historic comeback in baseball history. Others take it for what it was: useless banter from a bonehead player.
The Bruins find themselves trailing the Lightning 0-1 in the Eastern Conference Finals after an ugly Game 1 loss. When asked about his anxiety level heading into Game 2, Boston goalie Tim Thomas made some comments that would likely enrage Jack Edwards (see his royalty rant).
“I think you should get mentally prepared,” Thomas said according to WEEI.com. “It can get all-consuming but I don’t think that’s really the right way to go. These hockey games are important, they’re important to us, they’re important to the city, but to be realistic, it is just a game. You look around at what’s going on in the world right now, Israel was attacked on numerous fronts yesterday. It can really make you put it in perspective.”
Thomas’ point makes sense, but I would guess — and this is nothing more than a hunch from a guy who has lived in the Boston area his entire life — that Boston fans would rather not hear their goalie talking about the problems in the Middle East before Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Hockey is indeed just a game, but it is also a career and guys like Claude Julien are happy they won’t be looking for a new one after this season. Unless Thomas can personally do something to help the situation in Israel before Tuesday night, it might be in his best interest to allow the “all-consuming” thing to happen.
